PEDESTALS AND PLATEAUS

Make a sheet erosion landscape to study soil erosion

Suitable For

Grade 5

Difficulty

3

Time Required

<2 Days

Supervision

Advised

What’s it about?

Water running down from a high area to a low area washes away the fine soil particles exposed on the surface and leaves the ‘protected’ coarser particles on higher ‘plateaus’. This phenomenon is called ‘sheet erosion’ and in this science experiment we will create such a landscape on a small scale:

Topics covered

Sheet erosion, Pedestal, Plateau

What will I need?

LARGE TRAY

SANDY SOIL

WATERING CAN

COINS

CAN LIDS

Procedure (Method)

Unfortunately, this section is only available in the e-book version of the project.

How does it work?

Unfortunately, this section is only available in the e-book version of the project.

This science experiment works because erosion of soil cannot take place if it is shielded from the elements. The soil particles covered under the coins and lids were shielded from eroding when the water was sprinkled over the soil area continuously. As the soil that was not shielded were washed away by the flow of water, little pedestals and plateaus formed around it.

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